Becoming the Boss

The Millennial Generation: Getting to Know Y

Millennials – Generation Y – will make up half of the US workforce by 2020. Born between 1982 and 2000, millennials are self-expressive, technologically savvy, group-oriented and diverse. While Gen Y’s 80 million people make up the largest section of the US workforce, its members may face “millennial shaming” from older employees who consider them entitled and too much in need of constant feedback or validation.

The older generations include traditionalists – born from 1922 to 1945; baby boomers – born from 1946 to 1964; and Generation X – born from 1965 to 1981. Traditionalists are loyal, cautious, frugal and risk-averse. Their kids, the baby boomers, challenged the status quo; they’re optimistic, youthful and fun-loving. Baby boomers grew up in an era of rock ’n’ roll, free love, civil rights and women’s liberation. Generation Xers are independent, self-sufficient and technologically adept. Many Xers grew up as “latchkey kids” and looked after themselves because their parents worked long hours or were divorced. Overall, traditionalists and Generation Xers are more cautious, while baby boomers and members of Generation ...